The smartest political comic on the UK Circuit in his Tory bashing prime. We had Mark down at our Angel gig recently to test out bits of this show where he discusses his attempts to make a little bit of a difference to the world, whether it’s training shoplifters in Harrods or letting Dan Brown readers know about the virtues of charity shops.

The Edinburgh Comedy Award winner brings his casiotone ‘musical whimsy’ to the Fringe once again. Like Munnery, he’s a perpetual must-see for what sheer imagination he can bring to the stage, and D O D is soon to be an established Fringe legend.

If Tony Law received any more stars for last year’s Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated Maximum Nonsense he would have to buy Greenwich Observatory to look at them all. In short, he’s awesome. Expect a similar stream of seemingly nonsensical brilliance that keeps going and keeps delivering and keeps you in pains of laughter.

Bridget is the perfect mix of smart, silly and surreal, combing beautiful feminist polemic with a dazzling ability to turn around on the spot. Her latest Radio 4 series will have raised her profile, and there is no doubt her new fans will be pleased with this hour, which has at its focus the decision by Bic to sale a pen for women.

After receiving a well-deserved nod in the Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Show nominations last year James Acaster is back with his nice jumpers, slacks and jokes. Few stand-ups are as sharp, engaging and viciously funny while looking like a comic book character Dennis the Menace would bully.

We have seen Pat grow from promising newcomer rapping about his tumour-ridden dog to one of the most thrilling, in-demand acts on the London circuit. His philosophical and surreal ramblings have a real touch of Simon Munnery to them yet bring something unique to the table. This is set to be a very special year for Pat indeed.

The winner of So You Think You’re Funny last year, Aisling bring her debut hour to the Fringe and we are excited. You’ll recognise from her numerous TV appearances (Dead Boss, CBBC, Cardinal Burns etc) but it’s her natural charm and gift for story-telling that will make you realise stand-up is her true calling.

Last year’s effort was one of the most thoughtful, funny shows ever seen at the Fringe, and as her profile rises, Pascoe keeps delivering the goods. Unafraid and adventurous in her approach, she’ll take you turn the wondrous, meandering lanes of nonsense before convincing you never to eat meat again.

Liam has enjoyed recent festival success with his Kitson-endorsed sketch group Sheeps and we are very excited to see his solo debut. His material is as dry and intelligent as a teetotal Stephen Hawking in the desert, with each word meticulously written to peer-reviewed perfection. See this clip for Russell Howard’s Good News if you don’t believe us.

Last year, Nish found himself the face of a questionably racist meme (like those things that young people look at on the internet). This year, he’s talking about it. And explaining what memes are to older members of the audience. A lesson in doing simple, brilliant stand-up from a young comic soon to be on Stewart Lee’s Alternative Comedy Vehicle.

Another former Comedy Award winner, and one who’s growing up. This show involves Brendon explaining the five reasons you have never heard of him. We had him do a very early preview, and it was looking fantastic then. On highlight was Brendon analysing a live TV interview he did on Australian Morning TV. The finished show will likely be masterful.

Ask any comic at last year’s Fringe what their favourite show was, and 9 out of 10 times this woman’s name would have come up. Her imaginative take on a one-woman disaster play was a revelation last year, and big things are expected in 2013.

Since being nominated for Best Newcomer in 2011, Widdicombe has rocketed up the UK comedy charts, becoming a panel show regular, an XFM present (the Adam and joe slot no less!) and every mum’s favourite young man. He’s back to remind people that at the heart of it, he’s still an incredibly gifted stand-up.

Whereas Widdicombe is the mum’s comic of choice, Helm must be the teenage boys’ (howeverNick has told us on twitter that “it’s mainly mums that like me” ). All shouting and rock and roll, yet all masking a lonely helplessness that gives this demi-character act enormous heart. Whether Helm can sustain that while riding high as a comic success remains to be seen, but you’ll be guaranteed laughs in any case.

A second hour from the star of Plebs and Friday Night Dinner. He performed at LOL earlier this year with tears in his eyes having earlier that day received a rather personal revelation, turning that emotion into laughs and cementing his place in our minds as a stand-up with the potential to take that most human element of the form to its extreme.

A favourite of Guardian readers last year, Best Newcomer nominee Trent returns with another multimedia extravaganza that will no doubt involve projectors, music and despair. It amazed us all last by demonstrating the power Sigur Ros could have on an ordinary life. We’re hoping he does the same this year with Psy.

Last year’s Best Newcomer winner may feel like he has all the pressure in the world on his shoulders this time around. It’s his own doing though by being so damn brilliant in awkward, melancholic hilarity. We’ve seen two previews already, and it is shaping up very nicely already.